Case Number 12127

THE OTHER SIDE

The Charge

Fear the reapers.

Opening Statement

As a film fan raised on homegrown, mainstream movies, I've been slow to dip
my toe into the indie waters. I know, I know -- there's lots of great stuff to
be found out there. Couple that with the fact that I've recently found myself
leaving the multiplexes increasingly frustrated by loads of flashy CGI spilled
over weak stories, and I was more than ready to give The Other Side a
spin.

The result? Let me put it this way: If The Other Side is indicative
of what I've been missing from the indie scene, I'm ready to skip the
toe-dipping and cannonball myself straight into the middle of the pool. Loads of
fun throughout its lean 95 minutes, The Other Side is proof that you
don't need an A-list cast, glitzy effects, and coffers overflowing with cash to
make a fantastic film.

Facts of the Case

What is it about great evil that yields even greater loopholes? The Death
Star still would be menacing galaxies today if it weren't for that
two-meter-wide exhaust port that some imperial architect probably designed late
on a Friday, his mind already preoccupied with finding the nearest cantina for
happy hour.

Hell, as portrayed in The Other Side, has a similar problem with
almost identical dimensions. Satan may have cornered the market on eternal
torment, but his architect sucks. See, it's possible to escape Hell, and
from the number of people who've done it -- even multiple times -- apparently
Hades is an easier nut to crack than Alcatraz.

Life is all unicorns and rainbows for Sam North (Nathan Mobley). About to
graduate from a prestigious Ivy League school, he's managed to weather a
long-distance relationship with his fiancee, Hanna Thompson (Jaimie Alexander,
with appearances in Kyle XY), who works at a bar and grill in rural
Georgia. But earthly happiness is not to be as Sam, waiting for Hanna at their
special, idyllic spot, suddenly finds himself in the dark, dank caves of Hell
(dubbed "The Pit" by those unfortunate to have received a one-way
ticket to the place) after a mysterious van plows broadside into him. Luckily
for Sam, eternity lasts mere minutes when some fellow damned bring him along as
they spring the joint.

As one might expect, Hell is none too happy at losing its charges, and a
trio of reapers (two words: demonic Terminators) are dispatched to send the
escapees back to Hell by hunting them down and killing them. Sam finds
assistance in fending off the relentless reapers in the form of the
straight-laced Oz (Poncho Hodges), the wise-cracking and 39-time adulterer Mally
(Cory Rouse), and a slew of other escapees.

If that isn't enough, Sam learns that Hanna is missing, and he's suspect
numero uno. With the ruthless reapers in constant pursuit, Sam fights to stay
alive and unravel the truth behind Hanna's disappearance.

The Evidence

Gregg Bishop, the man who wrote, directed, and edited this puppy, has crafted
a wild tale chock-full of different yet intertwined genres. He wastes no time in
giving viewers a jolt before the title hits the screen, but first impressions
can be deceiving: This is not a simple, by-the-book horror film. At its
heart is a tragic love story, and a current of mysteries flows beneath the
action and bloodletting. Jarring, mysterious quick cuts soon left me pondering
all sorts of questions. Who killed Sam? Why was he condemned to Hell? What
happened to Hanna? What's the deal about Sam's murdered parents, and who's
behind that? What's the deal with the document and Sam's signature? Bishop lets
these questions simmer as he patiently builds his characters and tosses red
herrings along the way.

Speaking of red, there's plenty of it here. The Other Side is not a
wall-to-wall gorefest, but the shootings, stabbings, arm rippings, and impalings
spill their share of blood in ways that definitely garner the R rating. The
quality of these and other effects is often top-notch and surprisingly
accomplished by a variety of methods. From simple physical props, squibs, and
real guns firing blanks to "guacamole" guns, Photoshop, and a bit of
CGI, The Other Side sports extremely impressive visual effects for a film
on a shoestring budget.

Of course, the physical carnage brought by the reapers' wrath would mean
little if the characters didn't feel genuine. Thankfully, they're brought to
life by a capable and talented cast. Mobley more than holds his own as the
film's lead, and the rest of the cast -- no matter how small the part -- often
show real acting chops. Of particular note is Rouse's portrayal of Mally. Rouse
brings his comedic talents and improvisation skills to a character that craves
and indulges in the more material pleasures of an earthbound existence, and his
actions and quips are truly funny. He's a pleasant source of comic relief amidst
the weightier tones of the story. Best of all, none of it feels forced. It's the
type of person Mally truly is versus who he isn't.

The music warrants kudos of its own. Kris Carter, an Emmy award winner for
Batman Beyond and composer for Teen Titans, has crafted a
fantastic score that injects Bishop's action sequences with audio adrenaline. It
echoes of some scores from mainstream action fare with far mightier budgets
(portions made me think of Aliens), but I can't quibble with that. Like
so many other aspects of the film, it works, and it works very well.

Bringing it all together is Bishop's excellent direction. Clearly gifted
with an eye for making movies, his love of making a film is palpable throughout.
Despite the incredibly low amount for which this film was shot, Bishop's work
behind the camera and in the editing room had me forgetting that this was an
independent flick. This is film made for the love of it, and truth be told, I
found it incredibly refreshing.

If the film is the cake bought at a dime store price, Bishop's commentary
track is pure icing. This is how a commentary track should be done. Too
many times have I listened to a commentary track with seemingly-bored
participants dishing out uninteresting banter between long gaps of silence.
Again, Bishop's passion for film shines as he jumps right in, eager to admit
he's excited to do a commentary track. Bishop reeled me in with his entertaining
and enlightening tales about his "guerrilla filmmaking" experience and
how he managed to pull off a film with the budget he had. He goes into the
technical, telling viewers how he gave the unfortunate souls of the damned their
unsettling gait or how a particular scene was -- or in some cases, wasn't --
lit. He points out the characters who are friends, significant others, or family
members who sometimes became instant crew members (and vice-versa). But what I
enjoyed most of all was Bishop's array of tips and tricks for shooting an
independent film. He discusses things like the power of wearing an orange vest,
the approach that is sometimes better than asking for permission before
shooting, and the endless favors he obtained from his network of friends,
family, and fellow film school grads. Bishop's commentary track is a real treat
and is not to be missed.

Visually, the film is on the grainier side, but given the fact that this is
an indie film shot with donated equipment, I can hardly fault the filmmakers for
not having a sharp-as-nails presentation. And given the subject matter, the
quality of the visuals actually work in favor of the film. Audio is a Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix that won't work your rear speakers often, but it's crisp, your
subwoofer will enjoy the occasional rumble from swells of the soundtrack and
gunfire. I did notice a few scenes where the dialogue dropped lower than I
expected, but those moments were the exception rather than the rule.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Some may feel that Bishop's script borrows much from The Terminator
and its sequels. The parallels are there and easy to spot, but Bishop's film
mixes it up with elements of other genres and manages to tell an original story
that makes it feel more like a nod to Cameron's films and less of a bad
rip-off.

Closing Statement

The Other Side is great fun. It's a well-written, deftly directed, and
confidently shot supernatural thrill ride filled with solid acting, comic relief
that works, impressive action sequences, and a fantastic soundtrack, all of
which elevate this film to a level far greater than the sum of its parts. It's
an indie film that runs circles around many of its bigger-budgeted and bloated
Hollywood brethen that so often rely on expensive CGI effects and star power to
buoy a flimsy script. Highly recommended.

The Verdict

The court hereby finds The Other Side not guilty and is free to go.
Let the record state that the court eagerly anticipates Gregg Bishop's future
filmmaking projects, as the man clearly has some serious skills. Case
dismissed.